This state trooper has probably had better days at work (Picture: Reuters)

As Mr Tragale approached road construction and tried to stop, one container flew off the truck bed and into the southbound lane, while the other containers spilled on to the highway, police said.

The flying container hit one vehicle which then caused it and four other vehicles to be pushed into each other. Police said the people in the vehicle hit by the container suffered minor injuries. No-one else was injured.

When hagfish become stressed, they secrete a slime, which can be seen in the photos on the vehicles and on the highway, police said.

The road reopened after the bulldozing and hosing it off was completed on Thursday afternoon.